Rather Than a Life of Finality

"Ah, so you're awake, I suppose." Subaru heard a voice speak to him as he finally stirred from his sleep.

As Subaru slowly opened his eyes, he found a little girl sitting in a corner of the room. "Even though your cute face is the first thing I see after waking up, I can tell this isn't heaven." Subaru groaned.

"You may dispense with the shallow flattery. It doesn't improve my opinion of you at all, I suppose." Beatrice huffed. Once she noticed the boy's attention turning towards the sleeping blue-haired maid at the side of his bed, Beatrice informed, "The younger maid slacked off on her duties to stay by your side. I wish I could praise such faithfulness, but this place is getting quite messy in her idleness and the dishes prepared by the older sister are severely lacking, I suppose."

As he weakly stroked Rem's head, Subaru sighed, "So, I lived, huh."

"You sound disappointed, I suppose." Beatrice spoke almost threateningly as her eyes narrowed on him.

His attention returning to the little girl, Subaru casually spoke, "Hey, Beatrice?"

Her eyes now locked with the boy's, Beatrice asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice, "What is it, I wonder?"

"I can return by death." Subaru whimsically revealed.

Rather than shocked, Beatrice was instead bewildered by the boy's small declaration as she asked, "Return by… What is that supposed to mean, I wonder?"

Although Subaru felt some satisfaction in saying those words, it ultimately didn't rouse any significant emotion in him as he nonchalantly carried on, "Oh, nothing really. Just wanted to test something. In fact, judging by the way I can say it out loud means that I'm lying. In other words, I can't return by death."

Although she initially considered a possible deeper meaning to the boy's words, Beatrice decided he was simply speaking nonsense and decided to move onto a different topic. "Don't you have any words of gratitude that you would like to get across to me, I wonder? It's quite vexing to treat the exact same wound on the same person twice, you know. Adding to that, you caused me trouble on my birthday, I suppose."

After he lifted up his shirt to confirm his stomach was once again sealed closed, Subaru recalled, "So, you're the one who saved me? I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. You're the one who healed my first gut injury, after all."

Bothered by the boy's carefree attitude, Beatrice scolded, "I must say that it's indicative of a foolish boy to receive two fatal injuries in the same place. Reflect on your mistake so that I don't have to heal your tummy a third time, I suppose."

Once he confirmed a new scar on his stomach, Subaru sighed, "Sorry, but if I'm the only one against her, there's no way I'm coming out of that fight without my tummy getting slashed. It's her favorite spot to slice."

With her annoyance turning into unease, Beatrice gently asked, "You… were in a pretty deplorable state when I found you. Tell me, was my healing sufficient, I wonder? Is there any discomfort?"

"My stomach is feeling pretty sore, but it's nothing compared to how it felt right before I lost consciousness." Subaru surmised. As his face darkened from the possibilities, Subaru finally found the courage to ask, "Rather than ask me how I'm feeling, is everyone else alright? Judging from the way you and me are still alive, that must mean at least Emilia survived as well, but…"

Not ignorant of the apprehension on the boy's face, Beatrice stated, "I don't know what you're talking about, but you seem to have the wrong idea. Nobody died that night, I suppose."

With all of his predictions falling to pieces, Subaru uttered in disbelief, "…Are you serious?"

"What would I benefit by lying to you? More importantly, you sound dissatisfied, I suppose." Beatrice shot back.

As he flashbacked to a previous encounter with the Bowel Hunter, Subaru bitterly informed, "Of course, I'm happy we all made it out of it alive, but… Well, the last time I fought with Elsa, there were massive causalities."

"Bubby told me that nobody was killed during his first encounter with that woman in the capital, I sup—" Beatrice wondered aloud about a past memory. Once she recalled that the past that Subaru experienced differs greatly from Puck's, Beatrice realized, "Ah, you must be talking about one of your experiences in the future, I suppose."

As he recalled the Great Spirit's deadly offensive magic, Subaru asked, "Did you get her with 'Minya' or 'El Minya'?"

"I'm afraid I wasn't presented with such an opportunity. If I ceased to protect you for even a moment, I fear that she would've finished off the sleepyhead on the floor, I suppose. Honestly, you being there was such a nuisance." Beatrice huffed at the annoying memory.

"She must've really wanted me dead if even someone like you didn't have time to go on the offensive." Subaru leaned his back against the bed frame as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

As the boy seemingly went aloof, Beatrice frowned as she went on to demand, "I'm still waiting to hear words of gratitude from you, I suppose."

Despite feeling a flash of anger, Subaru tried to maintain emotionally detached as he spoke, "Why are you trying to draw out praise from me so much? Our current relationship is you wanting nothing to do with me while also reluctantly helping me, so stop trying to act like 'my Beako'."

"…You blockhead." Beatrice uttered as she grit her teeth.

"I was half expecting you to blast me out of the bed, but I guess even you wouldn't attack me when I'm like this." Subaru teased; however, there was ill intent in his voice.

Already at her wits end, Beatrice released her pent-up emotions as she exclaimed, "Why am I receiving such slander after I did you a favor without looking for any compensation of my own?! Just what kind of opinion do you have of me, I wonder?!"

Although he felt some satisfaction in making the Great Spirit lose her patience, Subaru immediately grew bored as he changed the topic, "You two were at a standstill, right? What caused the fighting to break off?"

Still furious from his previous comments, Beatrice continued to shout, "Do you think you can so easily manipulate the flow of this conversation?! To make all these accusations about Betty without accepting reprimand, I wonder?!"

"Shh. You'll wake up Rem." Subaru reminded. Surprised to hear the maid still softly snoring, Subaru realized, "Actually, she must be pretty tired to still be sleeping. Either that or she's actually awake and listening in."

Although she was about to raise her voice yet again, Beatrice looked at the younger sister peacefully sleeping and went on to begrudgingly explain, "The half-elf and the two maids showed up. Realizing she was cornered, that woman jumped out the window and made her escape. While I had no intention of chasing her in the first place, there was also a sleepyhead that would be dying soon if I didn't attend to him, I suppose."

With a hand to his chin, Subaru wondered aloud, "So, you never let down your guard this time, and somehow Emilia wasn't killed. Was Elsa alone this time around?"

Once her heart had almost fully calmed, Beatrice answered the boy's question, "Judging from that woman's insistence, it seems like you were her sole target. To answer your question, there was only one intruder last night. Perhaps it would be overdoing it to use too many resources to slay an unremarkable person such as yourself, I suppose."

Unfazed by the provocation Beatrice stuck in at the end of her explanation, Subaru continued to ponder the situation, "So, there was the change in timing, and that might have changed the circumstances too. The Elsa attacking the mansion event was pushed forward more than a year in advance, so that might explain why Meili wasn't there this time around."

Once he recalled a certain detail, Subaru shouted, "Wait, Meili was with Elsa back then because—!" Finally looking desperate, Subaru turned to Beatrice and asked, "Beatrice, is anyone missing in the village?! Are all the children still there?!"

Somewhat relieved to see the boy display such worry, Beatrice answered, "I heard that the twins already had already checked on the village. I didn't care to ask about the details, but apparently the village was completely untouched, I suppose. As for the children, I'm sure there would be a ruckus if any were unaccounted for."

Realizing that Meili was completely irrelevant to the current situation, Subaru breathed a sigh of relief. "If that's true, then Meili really didn't show up this time. We really dodged a bullet, but we might want to go ahead and hire Petra. She'll be safer with us."

With his heart now calm, Subaru lightly teased, "Anyways, you're really getting into the detective foreplay here. Usually you would have left the room by now because you just didn't care."

"You treat me like I'm some sort of aloof individual, I suppose." Beatrice frowned at the accusation.

Having forgotten his intent to innocently tease, Subaru pressed the Great Spirit, "Isn't that the façade that you've created all on your own?"

Normally, Beatrice would have a counterargument prepared; however, not only does he claim to be her contractor from the future, but his eyes… Those frightening eyes of his pierced the core of her being. It was almost as if Beatrice had nowhere to hide from them.

Unsettled by the all-knowing look on his face, Beatrice desperately reasoned, "This is… investment. Yes, that's it. I'm invested in you. Not because I think you could be compatible with me or anything, but rather because I've already saved your life twice now. If I let you die, all my efforts would have been for nothing, I suppose."

Tired of all the petty excuses, Subaru sharply called her name, "Beatrice."

As the traces of crushed hope started to creep into her heart, Beatrice timidly asked, "Are you… truly not 'that person', I wonder? At this point, I don't think anyone besides you would do. So, please…"

"Please be Betty's 'that person', I suppose!" Beatrice exclaimed with her voice starting to crack. Her hand was finally outstretched towards the boy.

Although he recognized that Beatrice was trying to reach out to him in her own way, Subaru wore a bitter smile as he spoke, "Throughout all my life, you called me many names. 'Subaru', 'Hubby', even 'Tsunbaru', but you never once called me 'that person'."

"I'm not part of Echidna's plans." Subaru stated with finality.

"No… That can't…" Beatrice uttered as her outstretched arm went limp beside her. The tears in her eyes still refused to fall.

Finally making peace with the situation, Subaru spoke, "I already missed my moment of opportunity by jumping the gun a day early. I'm pretty sure you could only accept me if I became 'that person' for you now, but I can't accept that."

"Why…?" Beatrice whimpered, and as her hands tightening into fists, she gave voice to her crushed hopes, "Why?! It's so easy to become Betty's 'that person'! All you need to do is accept it as your role in all of this, I suppose! Why can't you do something so simple?!"

As her tears finally started to fall, Beatrice's voice cracked as she painfully spoke, "E-Even though you were the first human I ever made this offer to, why do you continue to reject me, I wonder?"

"Because I love you, Beatrice." Subaru confessed with a defeated smile.

Although momentarily stunned by the sudden confession, Beatrice countered, "That's all the more reason to—!"

"But I can only love you as Subaru Natsuki. Neither Echidna nor her plans had a hand in my feelings." Subaru stated firmly, not allowing a compromise. Once Beatrice went silent once more, he scratched the back of his head and sighed, "I guess we've reached another standstill. Can't say that I'm surprised considering how stubborn we both are."

"…Roswaal wanted to speak with you in private once you woke up, I suppose." Beatrice emotionlessly informed with her voice turning hollow.

Once he recognized that as the end to their conversation, Subaru slowly stood up from the bed and spoke, "I bet he wants to talk about his damn book. Well, I better go get it over with."

Standing up from her chair as well, Beatrice said, "I'll accompany you, I suppose."

Although he shocked by the little girl's insistence after their fight, Subaru reluctantly conceded, "Do what you want."

Before Subaru left his room with Beatrice at his side, he looked back at the sleeping maid and whispered, "I'll… I'll be back in a bit, Rem."

After he wordlessly walked with Beatrice through the corridors, Subaru opened the door to Roswaal's quarters and was greeted with his usual smile, "Greeeetings, Subaru. I am delighted to seeee that you've made a quick recovery."

As his previous unrest started to reemerge, Subaru's lips curved into a smirk as he spat, "Hah. You've got some nerve, Roswaal. Seeing that all-knowing smile of yours really pisses me off."

"Barusu, I would ask you to watch your tongue in front of our master. Do you still not comprehend your station?" Ram reprimanded as her face darkened. She stood beside the mage's desk.

"Oh, trust me. I think I know my role in all of this pretty damn well." Subaru stated triumphantly. As he recalled that this was supposed to be a private meeting, Subaru asked, "I don't have much room to talk since I brought along Beatrice, but didn't you want to talk with me alone? Why is Ram here?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, Roswaal revealed with his usual grin, "It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I'm afraid I'm no looonger in a position to refuse Ram's demands. She simply wishes to be at my side as much as possible."

"If my presence bothers you, Barusu, then I would like to ask you to leave." Ram spoke to Subaru as she pointed at the door.

"That would defeat the purpose of all of this, wouldn't it?" Subaru bantered back. Once he understood what Roswaal had implied, Subaru asked, "You can't refuse Ram? Roswaal, don't tell me you already failed?"

His eyes widening from their understanding, Roswaal grinned, "Oh my. Do you perhaps alreeeady know about the situation then? I must say that's quiiite unexpected this early on."

Not taking Subaru's words seriously, Ram lacked caution as she spoke, "You give Barusu too much credit. He's clearly putting on airs."

With his lips curved into an all-knowing smirk, Subaru revealed, "What if I say that Roswaal failed to satisfy the conditions of his book and thus his life now belongs to you, Ram? Am I putting on airs now?"

Once his suspicions were proven correct, Roswaal motioned towards Ram to concede, "As you can see, Ram, Subaru here isn't bluffing."

As the maid scowled at Subaru, Beatrice took a step forward and warned, "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stop glaring at this boy so incessantly, I suppose. Since I'm in his company, I can't accept such blatant hostility bearing down in my general direction."

As Ram cautiously remained silent, Roswaal spoke for her, "Please forgive Ram's hostility. Nobody but us is supposed to knooow about the contract that binds us together, and yet it seems like Subaru is in on our little secret."

Taking some satisfaction in this current situation, Subaru's lips curved into an imposing smile as he spoke with confidence, "I'm just going to come out and say it. Roswaal, I have all the cards in my hands this time. You're not hiding a single goddamn thing from me."

Delighted by the boy's arrogance, Roswaal challenged him, "What an impreeessive boast. If you're so confident, why don't you divuuuulge your hand to me then?"

"The Witch of Greed." Subaru immediately spoke. As he watched the mage's brow furrow, Subaru continued to taunt, "You don't like it when your master is labelled like that right?"

Although she was momentarily startled, Beatrice shakily argued, "But that's… No, I'm afraid your foresight has failed you, I suppose. While Roswaal is tied to Sanctuary, and by extension, moth— The fact is that she isn't this Roswaal's master."

"Even though he's got her book? Oh, and I'm talking about the Tome of Wisdom." Subaru asked as he noticed the desperation in the Great Spirit's flustered voice.

Once she realized she was getting too worked up, Beatrice delivered a calm retort, "That's not the same as being student and master, I suppose."

"Then what if this guy is the original Roswaal?" Subaru spoke, his words being more of a statement rather than a question.

As her eyes widened in disbelief and shock, Beatrice turned to the mage in question and weakly spoke, "T-The original, you say? But that's…"

"How frightening." Roswaal muttered, his voice lacking his usual teasing tone. Once he pulled out that familiar black book from his desk, Roswaal abandoned his smile as he questioned the boy, "I must admit, I am honestly perplexed. The current task at hand doesn't even involve Sanctuary, and yet you... I must ask, how have you already acquired such knowledge?"

Not letting his momentum go to waste, Subaru crossed his arms as he continued to reveal, "I'm just getting started here. The Gut Hunter attack, both a few nights ago and back in the capital, they were both your doing, right?"

Not even bothering with an excuse, Roswaal answered almost proudly, "Yes, that's correct."

Having already accepted Roswaal's confession, Beatrice's face darkened as she asked threateningly, "Roswaal, you're telling me this boy was badly hurt according to your will, I wonder?"

With his previous smile returning, Roswaal answered, "Of course not. It was never my intention for Subaru to get hurt in the first place. In fact, I didn't get the ideal outcome from that night just yet."

Not oblivious to the Great Spirit's anger, Subaru half-teased, half-berated her, "What are you getting so upset about, Beatrice? Roswaal was only following his book's instructions. You of all people can't fault him for that, right?"

Although the mage's statements troubled her, Beatrice turned to Subaru and spoke in desperation, "But that's—! Regardless, shouldn't you be getting angry for your own sake, I wonder?!"

"Why? Roswaal was doing me a favor." Subaru replied nonchalantly as he shrugged his shoulders.

With the same friendly smile resting on his face, Roswaal asked, "I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean by that, but does that mean you see things my way, Subaru?"

After he exhaled a drawn-out sigh, Subaru asked in return, "Let me guess. You want me to go back and try again?"

With a small yet passionate nod of his head, Roswaal urged, "If you already understand that, then why are you still here? Actually, you know far too much considering the current task. Tell me, what happened in your previous loop?"

After deciding that it was finally the appropriate to say it, Subaru revealed, "You catch on fast. I used to hate that about you, but right now it'll speed things up. I'm actually from fifty years in the future."

Unable to remain silent any longer, Ram finally spoke with agitation dripping from her words, "Just what the hell is going on here?"

Although he understood the maid's unrest, Roswaal urged, "Ram, I humbly ask you to remain silent. I admit that I have no power over you as of now, but this is still meant to be a conversation strictly between myself and Subaru. I'll explain things to you later."

"…Understood." Ram reluctantly nodded.

With a hand to his chin in contemplation, Roswaal wondered aloud, "Fifty years… That's not such a significant amount of time for someone such as myself, and yet I can't help but feel terrified at the prospect of someone being that far ahead of me."

"It does explain how I know so much, right?" Subaru replied with a grin.

With his brow furrowing at the possibilities, Roswaal cautiously asked, "Does the situation fifty years from now get so dire that you had to come this far back to correct things? What could have possibly happened?"

After having a chuckle at the clown's expense, Subaru's grin turned into a smirk as he revealed, "You've got it all wrong, Roswaal. The only thing that happens fifty years from now is that I'm about to die. I came back here because I wanted to go fishing."

"You wanted… to go fishing?" Roswaal slowly repeated with his jaw agape. He couldn't believe such a ridiculous sentence just came out of Subaru's mouth.

Finally thinking of how absurd the how situation was, Subaru laughed, "Haha! Isn't it ridiculous? I didn't plan on coming back, but I had an intense urge to go fishing right before I died. Instead of going to heaven, I woke up with a fishing rod in my hand."

Although deeply shaken by Subaru's lighthearted answers, Roswaal desperately urged, "You can dispense with your usual jokes, Subaru Natsuki. Regardless of your intentions, I beseech you to go back a few days and—"

"Sorry, but no can do. My time-traveling powers got revoked." Subaru interrupted the mage.

"…Excuse me?" Roswaal uttered as his confusion overwhelmed him. Yet another unbelievable statement had escaped Subaru's mouth.

As he scratched the back of his head in contemplation, Subaru explained, "Let's see, how to describe it to you... I basically only had enough time-traveling power to go back one more time. I know that sounds silly, but that's just how it is. I can't time travel anymore. Instead of a new beginning, I've just reached the last dead end."

Unable to accept the boy's words, Roswaal spoke almost pleading for Subaru to say it was a joke, "You… You can't be serious."

Delighted by the clown's desperation, Subaru smirked, "That's a good face, Ros-chi."

Once he realized he was cornered, Roswaal reluctantly revealed his intentions, "Subaru, as you've guessed, I had very specific conditions for that night when you were attacked. One of those conditions was you slaying Elsa herself."

Amazed that Roswaal would ever expect such a thing from him, Subaru joked, "Me killing her? I mean, I probably could have when your book gave you that condition, but since then, my power level has dropped astronomically. If you thought I was strong enough for a serious fight, then that at least explains why the assassin event was pushed forward so much. It's not like I knew how to use Beatrice's magic around this time in that timeline. Still, I have to wonder why you thought it was ideal for me to kill Elsa."

Seeing no reason to hide his motive, Roswaal revealed, "You already have quite the renown for being indispensable for the White Whale's subjugation and for landing the first successful counterattack against the Witch's Cult. If you were able to slay someone of considerable power with your own two hands, then no one would have faults if you became a knight."

"You mean Emilia-tan's knight, right?" Subaru surmised. Once he received a nod from the mage, Subaru rejected the idea, "Sorry, but I'm not about that life anymore. I'll still support Emilia as a friend, but I have… I had something more important to protect. It's impossible for me to prioritize Emilia now."

With his heart feeling heavy, Roswaal exhaled a long sigh before resigning himself, "Despite your incorrigible stubbornness, I'm sure there must be a way to correct you into becoming her knight; however, it's already meaningless since we've already deviated from my book. You've failed to kill Elsa and you can't go back and change it."

Understanding the defeat in the mage's voice, Subaru smiled, "Man, I really hate to say this, and I mean I really want to puke my guts out at the thought, but I do feel for you, Roswaal."

As he turned his forlorn gaze to the boy, Roswaal questioned, "Oh? Are you saying you can comprehend what's going through my head right now?"

"Well, I sure understand that there's nothing left for the two of us." Subaru answered with a tired smile.

Although momentarily stunned by the boy's pessimistic words, Roswaal's usual smile returned as he spoke lively, "Ahhhh. I don't know why, but hearing you say that feels really refreshing. So, you do get it, Subaru."

In a rare moment of sympathy, Subaru smiled at the mage, "Yeah, I get it, I get it. No need to be creepy about it. Well, it's been nice chatting with you, but I'm going to be making my exit here. I'm probably going to die soon, so I'd like to spend the time I have left doing what I want."

Having finished speaking everything that he had left to say, Subaru turned around to leave when something latched onto his hand. Having felt this hand so many times before, Subaru didn't need to turn around to find out who had stopped him.

As she fiercely gripped the boy's hand to prevent his escape, Beatrice spoke with authority, "I have countless questions that I demand an answer to, but I'll settle with one of them for the time being."

With her grip and her voice softening, Beatrice asked in an almost pleading voice, "What do you mean you're going to die soon, I wonder?"

Taking some comfort in the girl's touch, Subaru solemnly answered, "You should already know that I'm not going to last long, right? I mean, I just about reached the end the other night, and I've already died so many times up until now."

Once he heard something he couldn't ignore, Roswaal spoke up from his desk, "You've died before? How can such a thing be? I'm sure you've witnessed your fair share of death in all the loops you've been through, but you yourself should have never experienced death as well. If that were the case, how are you alive to tell us this?"

Until now, Subaru had taken a completely truthful approach to get a nice reaction out of Roswaal; however, he decided to remain cautious about this one key detail as he lied, "When I say I died, I mean I was put into a situation where I would have died if I didn't go backwards in time. It's not like I've died already."

During the entire exchange between Subaru and Roswaal, Beatrice had heard many unbelievable things. Despite this, Beatrice had a certain annoying intuition when it came to Subaru. Perhaps she had grown accustomed to all the innocent white lies that boy spewed on a daily basis, but the end result was that she could usually tell if the boy was lying to her or not.

"It's not like I've died already." Those words spoken by the boy triggered doubt inside the Great Spirit's mind, and that doubt caused her to remember his words.

"Return by Death…" Beatrice repeated those words in a whisper.

With the Great Spirit's whisper going unheard by everyone, Subaru continued to speak, "Now that I think about it, it explains why I didn't die the other night. Elsa likes to play with her enemies by cutting open their gut and watching them slowly die. Although it was an agonizing slow death the first two times, I guess I should be grateful this time around since it's the reason I lived. Actually, I'm not grateful at it. It hurt like hell."

"W-What are you saying, I wonder?!" Beatrice's voice erupted. Although she was unable to ascertain the emotion that had taken over her, Beatrice chose to act on it as she continued to shout, "Talking as if you've died before. That you've succumbed from blood loss from having your stomach slashed open. Wasn't it my purpose to prevent that from happening, I wonder?!"

As Beatrice's shouts grew in intensity, so too did her hold on his hand tightened until Subaru actually winced from the pain. Upon seeing his pained expression, Beatrice relented her intense grip as she gazed furiously yet expectantly into the boy's face.

Once he met with the little girl's strong gaze, Subaru somberly answered, "Beatrice, I don't have enough fingers to count the number of times I would've died. Hell, all of the fingers in this room wouldn't be enough. It's kind of my fate to die. I mean, death visits almost everyone equally, but that bastard really has it out for me. I'm sure the next time something comes up, I won't come out of it alive. I don't have the kind of strength to do things in one go."

With her previous undetermined emotions returning in earnest, Beatrice yelled, "Talking as if your fate is already sealed! You still have life, don't you?! Human lives are already so fleeting, so why don't you cherish yours, I wonder?!"

Deciding to freeze his own heart over, Subaru reminded the spirit, "Beatrice, do you remember our second contract?"

Suddenly feeling her blood go cold, Beatrice felt apprehension as she whispered in a voice only Subaru could hear, "The contract… stating that you won't kill yourself."

"The contract that you annulled." Subaru coldly reminded.

"Return by Death. You go back in time… when you die." Beatrice slowly repeated that fact in a whisper, and once she connected that to the second contract, she reached a horrifying conclusion, "…Suicide. You… You would commit such a terrible act, I wonder?"

Once he felt Beatrice's grip on his hand weaken, Subaru used to opportunity to separate himself from the spirit.

Although Subaru had let go of her, Beatrice went to reconnect her hand with his; however, she hesitated to take his hand once again.

As he gazed at his own wretched reflection in those butterfly eyes, Subaru forced himself to say, "You asked me why I don't cherish my life. It's because I'm no longer obligated to."

As she watched helplessly as Subaru went for the door, Beatrice reached her hand out towards his back. She went to say something, anything to make him stay there with her just a few seconds longer, but the words that were trapped in her heart never managed to escape.

"I'll see you guys later." Subaru uttered as he left the room, oblivious to Beatrice's wordless plea.

Before the room could fall into silence, Ram turned towards Roswaal and asked, "How much of Barusu's ramblings do you think is the truth?"

Unable to refute any of Subaru's claims, Roswaal sighed, "Unfooortunately, I have no doubt that Subaru spoke nothing but the truth."

Despite Roswaal's acceptance, Ram went to refute the boy's claims, "Even so, he states that he has the ability to rewind time and that he's come from fifty-years in the future. Common sense dictates—"

As he repressed an intense urge to laugh, Roswaal instead interrupted, "Common sense doesn't apply to that man. After working with him for the last two month, I'm sure you've already realized that 'normal' ill suits him. At the very least, I can personally vouch for his ability to rewind time. I'd like you to at least believe in that."

"As you wish." Ram reluctantly dropped the issue.

His attention returning to the little girl, Roswaal urged her, "I must say that look doesn't suit you, Lady Beatrice. If you have something to say to him, shouldn't you speak it?"

With her previous exasperation towards the mage returning, Beatrice pointed accusingly at Roswaal and shouted, "You! For starters, you were the one who endangered that boy, I suppose!"

As his lips curved into his usual smile, Roswaal teased, "Oh my. Is that a confession to caring for him, Lady Beatrice? I never thought I would see the day. Tell me, Subaru must be 'that person', right?"

"He's—!" Beatrice's flaring up anger started to diminish as hesitation took its place as she spoke as if trying to find the answer, "He's not my… He's my… That guy is…"

Once Beatrice had gone silent, Roswaal coldly informed, "If you let him go without saying anything, Subaru will just be another forgotten name in that long list of yours. If you don't speak to him tonight, you may never again get the chance."

Unable to comprehend the mage's words, Beatrice desperately asked, "W-What are you saying, I wonder?"

His gaze empty, Roswaal hinted at the boy's motivations, "As a man with little time left, I recognize the look on Subaru's face."

After Subaru left Roswaal's office, he wasted no time in returning to his own room. As he started to write on a piece of parchment, Subaru thought to himself, "I revealed Roswaal's behind the scenes scheming, but at the very least, he can earnestly support Emilia without that book making him do dubious things behind her back. Ram's going to get her happy ending with Roswaal, and Rem… Well, I guess nothing changes for her. Nothing really changes with Beatrice either, but at the very least, she'll be able to reunite with her mother soon. As a bonus, her relationship with her mother and Puck won't get ruined. Emilia's wish will come true as well, even if she doesn't become the ruler."

Even if it couldn't compare to a Tomb of Wisdom, Subaru could still leave behind predictions of events soon to come, just like when he predicted the White Whale and Witch Cult attacks.

Although he was skeptical of his own predictions given the recent Gut Hunter attack, Subaru looked down at the parchment and forced himself to say, "Well, that's everything that I could think of. Now it's up to them to follow through with it."

Once he was finished with the letter, Subaru stood up from his chair and went for the door, but before he exited his room, he saw Rem still resting on the chair with her face pressed against his bed. As he felt a surge of unbearable guilt, Subaru postponed his departure by a few more seconds as he drew near the person who had once saved his soul.

Despite being afraid that he would accidentally wake her, Subaru was unable to hold himself back as he rested his hand on Rem's head. As he gently patted her like that, Subaru whispered, "Goodbye, Rem. I'm sorry for leaving so soon, and thank you for everything."

After he reluctantly retracted his hand, Subaru left the mansion without looking back. As he traversed through the woods, Subaru spoke to no one, "It's definitely pathetic, but if I'm going to die again, then I'd at least like to go out on my own terms for once."

Once he caught sight of that familiar place, Subaru continued to walk closer as he tried to convince himself, "Satella gave me this last restart in case anything went wrong, not for redoing my entire life. I was happy with how things turned out in the end and I didn't die with regrets. So now… All that's left for me to do is finally find out what's on the other side."

As he peered over the edge of the cliff, Subaru smiled bitterly at the jagged rocks down below, "Man, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Don't take another step, I suppose!" A voice rang out.

"…You have got to be kidding me." Subaru hissed. As he slowly turned around to face her, Subaru adopted a warm smile as he nonchalantly greeted, "Heya, Beatrice. What are you doing out this late? Little girls shouldn't be—"

"Get away from that ledge, I suppose!" Beatrice interrupted with a shout. Fatigued from all the running, Beatrice bent over and pressed her hands to trembling legs as she started to pant.

With Beatrice trying to catch her breath, Subaru tried to come up with an excuse, "Oh, this? I think you have the wrong idea. I wasn't going to, well, you know. I was just feeling nostalgic and thought I would go sightseeing. This place is really special to me and—"

"Don't tell me such feeble lies, I suppose!" Beatrice yelled, infuriated by the boy's nonchalant attitude. Thinking the boy was mocking her once again, Beatrice stood up straight and pointed accusingly at Subaru, "I've spent a whole two months with you pestering me day in and day out! Even if it can't compare to the many years you spent with that Betty, even I'm able to tell when you're lying to me, I suppose!"

As his hand instinctively covered his face, Subaru's smile turned bitter as he recalled, "My nose twitches, right? You know, you actually told me that once, but I didn't think you noticed that this early on. Have you been stalking me or something?"

"I'll say it again. Get away from there, I suppose." Beatrice demanded, not allowing a compromise.

"No, I won't." Subaru abandoned his smile and his façade. As his expression turned grave, Subaru stated with a hollow voice, "Beatrice, I'm dying tonight."

In an instant, a creeping anxiety started to overtake the determination that Beatrice had worked up. Startled by the finality in the boy's voice, Beatrice shakily questioned, "What… What are you saying, I wonder?"

Unable to bring himself to face Beatrice any longer, Subaru turned around with his somber gaze falling to the jagged rocks below as he spoke, "If I have to say it, I'll say it. I'm committing suicide by jumping off of this cliff."

The boy's words dazed Beatrice. She knew from the beginning that this was Subaru's intention, but hearing that despair-filled declaration from him pained even her seemingly stagnant heart. "N-No, I won't allow that, I suppose!" Beatrice shouted who was on the verge of begging.

As he recalled one of his deaths in the demon beast loop, Subaru coldly informed, "I know from experience that you can't stop me. I've jumped off this cliff before when you were present."

His lips curving into a small smile, Subaru apologized, "Beatrice, I'm sorry for causing you trouble, but that's just how it is. Just go back to the mansion and live for a little longer and you'll find happiness."

As tears started building in her eyes, Beatrice resorted to pleading, "N-No, I'm… Please don't… Not you too, I suppose."

The heartbreak in Beatrice's voice caused Subaru's own heart to ache as he gently pleaded back, "Beatrice, I don't want to die where you can see me."

As she tightly grasped at the hem of her skirt in desperation, Beatrice whimpered, "Even though you still have life in you…"

"My life ended before I got here, and I don't think I can go through another do-over."

"Even though the younger sister and the half-elf expect to see you as usual come morning, I suppose."

"I never have much of a say in anything, so I'd at least like to be able to decide how and when I die."

"Even though you have people who would surely grieve for you, I suppose."

"If I stay, I'm just going to have to watch the people I love die all over again. Who would want that?"

"Even though I will surely be going with you, I suppose."

"...Huh?" Subaru uttered. Startled by Beatrice's statement, he finally turned around to face her in the vain hope that he might've misheard her.

Finally locking her eyes with Subaru, Beatrice solemnly spoke, "You're the only one who could've been 'that person'. Losing you is the same as losing my purpose in this world, I suppose."

Terrified of the prospect of someone's life, especially someone he loves, being cut short due to his actions, Subaru took a step away from the ledge and desperately spoke, "W-Wait, no. That's… Beatrice, don't do this. If you just wait a few years, you'll be reunited with your mother and—"

"S-Subaru." Beatrice shakily uttered his name as fat tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

Subaru's mind went completely blank from shock. It was just his name being spoken, but if was the fact that Beatrice was the one who called out to him. In his memory, the very first time Beatrice called him by name was—

"Why…?" Subaru uttered as he cursed himself for feeling saved. Swallowed by a whirlpool of clashing emotions, he went on to scream at the little girl, "Why?! Why now?! Why did you have to say that when I've already decided that it's my time?! ARE YOU MESSING WITH ME?!"

For the first time in centuries, Beatrice allowed her lips to speak such an earnest apology, "I'm… I'm sorry if I caused you unnecessary pain. I was just… scared. For four-hundred years I've waited for 'that person's arrival. When I thought the time had finally come only to be wrong, I was devastated. No, even more than that, I was infuriated with you for getting my hopes up, I suppose."

"I never said I was—!"

"I know! You never once claimed to be 'that person', but even so, I thought if I could inflict upon you a fraction of my remorse, then I would be satisfied!" Beatrice matched the boy's shouts, and as she clutched her chest, she went on to curse herself, "I should have taken your hand that night, I really should have, but I chose to be stubborn and close myself off. I really was such a fool, I suppose."

Unable to look at the boy in the eye, Beatrice's eyes remained focused on the ground as she offered, "At the very least, I no longer have the right to hate you. In fact, if you would allow me, I would like to depart with you, I suppose."

"Who…" Subaru murmured, and after he imagined Beatrice falling to her death along with him, he exclaimed, "Who the hell would want the person they loved most to die?!"

Barely able to stop the tears in his eyes from running down his face, Subaru spoke in a broken voice, "Y-You're the one who broke our contract! You did it! You tore it to shreds! So even now, why—?!"

"WHY WON'T YOU LET ME DIE?! DIDN'T YOU ONLY START TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME AFTER WE MADE THAT CONTRACT?!"

As she accepted the agonized words of the person in front of her, Beatrice countered them with a voice barely louder than a whimper, "I'm sure you already know this, but I don't… I don't want you to leave me. I… If you're not here, then…"

Her tears finally running down her face, Beatrice's voice matched the intensity of her feelings as she shouted, "If you're not here with me, I would be so lonely that I can't go on living, I suppose!"

With her hand outstretched towards the boy, Beatrice spoke a plea that was backed up by four-hundred years of solitude, "Subaru, please help me, I suppose."

Once he heard the little girl's tear-filled request, Subaru knew he didn't have a choice. His strength leaving him, Subaru crumbled to the floor. Even with the contract broken, he was forbidden from taking his own life.

Beatrice quickly drew close to the boy. As she knelt to the ground, Beatrice put her hands on his shoulders to support him.

"Goddammit. Look at me. I've already reached grandpa age and I'm still weeping like a baby." Subaru weakly complained as he tried to brush his tears away.

As she lightly mussed up the boy's hair, Beatrice reminded, "Crying is universal to everyone regardless of age. I've reached ancestor age and yet this is what I've been reduced to, I suppose."

"I can't believe you just said that." Subaru faintly chuckled as he looked up to find that her face was as much of a mess as his was.

As he met the little girl's soft gaze with his own, Subaru reminded, "Beatrice, I can't be 'that person'."

"I know. Just be my Subaru, I suppose." Beatrice faintly spoke as her lips finally curved into a small smile.

With the Great Spirit's smile being infectious, Subaru cautiously asked, "So, we're glued together again for life, right?"

In response to Subaru's question, Beatrice intertwined her fingers with Subaru's and answered affirmatively, "Yes. It's already too late for regrets, so you'll just have to accept the fact that I'll be accompanying you wherever you go, I suppose."

"I hope I can at least have some privacy in the bathroom." Subaru joked with a lighthearted smile.

Almost as if not hearing the boy's quip, Beatrice lowered her head and apologized, "Subaru, I… I have to apologize, I suppose. That night, the reason you were targeted by that woman is because you could use my magic. Then I went ahead and revoked the contract, leaving you helpless in the face of such an opponent, I suppose."

As he helplessly watched as Beatrice's expression crumble by the guilt, Subaru sheepishly reasoned, "Ah, don't apologize for that. Nobody could've known that— Well, nobody but Roswaal could've known that Elsa was going to attack that night."

With their conversation with Roswaal still fresh in her mind, Beatrice frowned, "You seem quite forgiving towards the man who almost got you killed numerous times, I suppose."

Although he felt a small impulse to say "'Almost'? That bastard has gotten me killed numerous times", Subaru instead made a deadpan expression as he sighed, "You get used to it."

Finally picking himself up from the floor, Subaru held his arms out to Beatrice and urged, "I said this place was special to me, but it's in the same way that someone like Elsa is special to me, so let's get out of here. I'll carry you."

Flinching from the idea, Beatrice feebly protested, "I-I'm not someone who needs to be carried, I—"

Not bothering to hear her protests, Subaru scooped the little girl up into his arms, "I used to make you run as a punishment, so I know how weak your stamina is. You must have ran all over to find me, so this is the least I can do since you saved my life."

Once she found herself sitting atop the boy's shoulders, Beatrice pouted as she weakly complained, "A piggyback is quite poor compensation for saving you, I suppose. I can't help but feel that I've been swindled."

After a chuckle at Beatrice's expense, Subaru promised, "Don't worry. I'll use the rest of my life to spoil you. Does that sound fair for paying you back?"

Although still seemingly dissatisfied, Beatrice eventually agreed, "It seems that I have no choice but to accept those terms, I suppose." With a question popping into her mind, Beatrice asked, "Subaru, you said I called you by that name and also by 'Tsunbaru', correct?"

"Yeah; although, you dropped the latter at some point." Subaru replied.

"You also said that I called you 'hubby'. Tell me, what kind of nickname is that, I wonder?" Beatrice asked another question. She can understand that 'Tsunbaru' does a fair job of reflecting the boy as a nickname, but what does 'hubby' even mean?

"A-Ah, well…" Subaru fumbled for any answer that wasn't a direct answer. In the end, Subaru deflected the question with, "Rather than me telling you about it, wouldn't you rather readopt that nickname of your own volition?"

Taken by the cute pet name, Beatrice eagerly requested, "Would you mind if I call you that now then, I wonder? I must admit it has a cute ring to it despite not understanding why I labelled you as such."

Worried about possible slander he would receive, specifically from Ram, Subaru declined, "If you called me that, there would be a lot of misunderstandings. So please, just anything but that."

"You really are an unreasonable fellow, I suppose. Fine, Subaru it is then. Hmpf!" Beatrice huffed as her crossed her arms atop his head and puffed her cheeks.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention another unbelievable fact about me." Subaru suddenly brought up.

Still indignant from Subaru's refusal, Beatrice continued to huff, "Hmpf! I doubt that anything could be as surprising as you coming from fifty years in the future, so let's hear it, I suppose."

"I'm also from another world." Subaru nonchalantly revealed.

"Stop it, I suppose!" Beatrice yelled. As she violently messed with Subaru's hair, she continued to shout, "For you to casually stack that on top of everything else! My trust in you is about to tumble over from the sheer absurdity of all your claims! You must realize there's a limit to my faith in you, I suppose!"

Unfazed by the onslaught that was taking place at the top of his head, Subaru casually spoke, "If I know anything, it's that you have a nearly unlimited amount of trust in me. Still, I kinda agree that adding me being an alien seems to cross the line into unbelievable territory. I'll just have to take you over there to prove it to you. We'll make the trip when we wake up in the morning. Ugh, I just realized I have a father-son head slam to look forward to."

With her tight grasp on Subaru's hair relaxing, Beatrice lightly blushed as she spoke, "It seems that you have bad memories, or rather, you have an unpleasant memory awaiting you, I suppose. Speaking of sleeping, Subaru…"

Already knowing what Beatrice was implying, Subaru gave her a reassuring nod, "Yeah, don't worry. I get it. I totally get it."

Realizing she didn't have to go through the humiliation of requesting it, Beatrice smiled from relief as she nodded back to him, "Y-You do, you say? W-Well, good. It's a little irksome to have an all-knowing partner, but it seems we can navigate through several hurdles with ease, I suppose."

Deciding to tease the Great Spirit, Subaru happily smiled, "Yup. Don't worry. I'll go borrow a bed from one of the guestrooms for you to sleep on. We have to sleep in the same room, right?"

"T-That's not exactly—" Beatrice tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

Before Beatrice could finish, Subaru continued to tease her, "Oh, and I already know about your embarrassing habit. I promise I'll personally clean your pee-stained bedsheets so Puck doesn't find out."

Her face turning scarlet from the disgrace, Beatrice balled her tiny hands into fists and pounded at the boy's skull as she screamed, "Nggh! You obviously know nothing! I have never peed the bed once in my life, I suppose!"

As he felt small thuds going against the top of his head, Subaru chuckled, "I got it. I got it. You want to share the same bed as me, right?"

Switching tactics, Beatrice drilled her fingernails into Subaru's cheeks as she continued to protest, "If you understood that, then you also understand that everything you said previously was unnecessary, I suppose!"

As he felt Beatrice's tight grip on his cheeks, Subaru spoke an empty apology, "Sorry, Beako, but teasing you is completely necessary. We kind of have this unspoken rule where I let you hold my hand whenever you want and I get to tease you when I need to."

"I can't believe Betty accepted such terms that leaned mostly in your favor!" Beatrice yelled, and as a last-ditch effort, she meant to slam her forehead against the top of Subaru's head. At the moment before impact, Beatrice feared the pain that would come from the headbutt, so she instead gently pressed her head against Subaru's.

Oblivious to Beatrice's previous violent plan, Subaru simply enjoyed Beatrice's touch.

With her heart feeling cozy, Beatrice feebly yet hopefully asked, "Will you… truly let me hold your hand whenever I want, I wonder?"

The Great Spirit's question brought a smile to Subaru's face as he answered, "If you're asking to hold my hand now, I'm afraid they're already occupied by carrying you. To make up for it, I'll hold your hand as you fall asleep tonight."

"I-I'm not necessarily a child that needs her hand to be held as she falls asleep, I suppose." Beatrice weakly protested.

"Does that mean you can fall asleep without holding my hand?" Subaru asked, his voice laced with tease.

Not allowing herself to lose the opportunity in front of her, Beatrice used her usual cunning to get what she wanted, "J-Just because it's unnecessary doesn't mean you shouldn't go through with it. In fact, it's simply proper etiquette to hold a lady's hand. Honestly, you are absolutely hopeless if I have to explain even that to you, I suppose!"

"Okay, okay. I got it." Subaru gave in with a smile.

Despite happy with her victory, Beatrice wasn't completely satisfied as she demanded for more, "Returning to the topic of you paying me back, I would like to know about the benefits of you spoiling me. Be specific, I suppose."

"Well, there's the holding hands part that I already mentioned. There's also hugging and ki— I mean, cuddling. Hugging and cuddling." Subaru managed to catch himself mid-explanation.

"'C-Cuddles' you say?" Beatrice stuttered as a blush reemerged on her face.

Fully recovered from his near screw up, Subaru went on, "Yeah, we're going to do some really next level stuff. It'll be a while from now, but I can't wait to snuggle with you."

"'S-Snuggles', you say?!" Beatrice yelped. After vigorously shaking her head to dispel those thoughts, Beatrice slandered the boy, "How improper to suggest such indecent things! We've only been contracted together for a few minutes! We shall go no farther than hugging, at least for now, I suppose!"

"Darn. I was hoping that we'd at least be able to jump straight into the cuddling phase." Subaru lightheartedly spoke.

Regaining her usual noble attitude, Beatrice attempted to compromise, "Hmpf. I'm afraid you'll have to work for such a privilege; although, since I'm a reasonable spirit, it wouldn't be impossible for to receive such a special service given you show me your sincerity, I suppose."

"What if I said I really just want to go ahead and cuddle with you right now?" Subaru asked, more out of curiosity than anything.

"Myna?!" Beatrice let out a strange cry. With her noble air leaving as quickly as it returned to her, Beatrice timidly played with her fingers as she shakily answered, "W-Well, if you're so adamant about it, I guess I can grant you such a favor, b-but only because it's a special occasion, I suppose!"

"You really are easy. Understood, I'm sure I'll be ready to cuddle with you in the coming months." Subaru teased back.

With another significant change in mood, Beatrice shouted at the boy accusingly, "MYNA?! I thought that you wanted cuddles tonight, I suppose!"

Although he wanted to continue to tease the spirit, Subaru answered with some sincerity in his words, "Yeah, but I don't want to rush things like I did the other night. Just because I'm at that level doesn't mean that you are, so I don't want to make any unreasonable demands."

After taking a few seconds to compose herself, Beatrice sighed, "You have a serious problem with messing with a maiden's heart, I suppose."

"I don't think someone as old as you can be called a 'maiden'." Subaru reminded. As a result of his comment, his hair was being pulled on yet again which caused him to chuckle, "Man, this seriously takes me back. I forgot how close you and I were even at this stage."

As she continued to try to pry the boy's hair from his scalp, Beatrice replied matter-of-factly, "What are you so fixated on now, I wonder? We're going to become even closer from now on, I suppose."

Unprepared by such adorable words, Subaru beamed, "Ah, this girl is so cute. What am I going to do with you, Beako?"

As she felt her lips curving uncontrollably, Beatrice urged, "I'm already used to such simple praise, so you'll have to devote yourself when it comes to flattering me, I suppose."

"Then I adore you, Beako." Subaru affectionately answered.

Unable to restrain her bright smile, Beatrice continued to try to pry more compliments out of the boy, "W-While there seems to be some elegance to your words, I'm afraid I'm still quite unfazed. Once more, I suppose."

While he felt giddy on the inside, Subaru's face assumed a deadpan expression as he uttered an apology, "Ah, sorry, but that's the end of it for now. I need time to prepare my heart to say anything more."

Curious beyond belief about what kind of compliments Subaru was withholding, Beatrice desperately protested, "What's that supposed to mean, I wonder? More importantly, I want to hear more, I suppose!"

As Subaru continued to traverse the forest with a somewhat embarrassed look on his face, Beatrice yanked on Subaru's ears in an attempt to pry more compliments out of him. They both refused to yield, and yet they were at peace together with Subaru thankful that Beatrice seems so interested, and Beatrice hopeful that she will one day hear the words that she didn't know she needed to hear.

If only the peace they enjoyed could have at least continued until morning came.

Author's Notes: I finally remembered my password to this site! Turns out it was "password" all along!

Um, hey, it's me again. That author guy with the stupid name that goes into hiding every time he publishes a chapter. So, it's been about 9 months since I last uploaded, and if you recall in my last a/n's, I said "I hope it doesn't take another 10 months for me to upload", so that's still par for the course, or something lol.

So, Re:Forgotten. I don't want to take too long talking about another fanfiction, so I'll just say back to hiatus hell it goes. Where it belongs.

You know, this chapter has been in the works for about a year and a half now. I was working on this in tandem with chapter 45 and decided to cut it in half because I didn't want to post a 20k worded chapter.

I can finally call Echidna by name instead of saying "Beatrice's mother" all the time. That was annoying in chapter 44. With all the side stepping I had to do with her, I kinda regret writing her into that chapter. It's just that I thought it really was the last chapter that I thought it might be a fun little thing to do.

I've been reading a lot of visual novels lately like Aokana and Atri, but I was not prepared at all for reading Umineko. Took me like 100 hours to read it all and it was still too short for my taste because nothing short of forever would've been enough. Umineko is a masterpiece and it will stick with me for the rest of my life. Can't believe Saya no Uta got dethroned.

I've gotten back into Higurashi (the anime) because of Umineko, and man, the parallels that show has with Re:Zero is startling. I watched the Questions arc of the anime years ago and kinda just thought that it was finished. Then I realized it has an Answers arc and all this side story stuff and that I had to watch. I wonder how SOTSU will wrap up all these new events.

Uhh, so you can find this story on Wattpad. Uhh, I didn't put it there. Uhh, well, I guess I don't mind. I just think it's a little hilarious how I thought the person made it pretty clear that it's not his story, but I see people giving him suggestions in the comments. Like "they should bring Subaru's parents to Lugnica", and I'm just sitting here thinking "you'll have to wait for chapter 20 for that."

Also, I would just like to remind you that from now on, every new chapter might be the last chapter; although, I would like to at least post one more. Depends on if I go through another writer's crisis.

Well, I'm going out to buy some milk and cigarettes again. See you.

-SENTIMENTAL ALERT-

Oh, and by the way, thanks for reading. You don't know how much all the reads and reviews mean to me. As much as I love Beatrice and Subaru, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have written this much if it wasn't for all the reviews I've gotten. It kinda feels weird saying that reviews is what fuels this fanfiction, but it's just reassuring to know that what I'm writing is making people happy. A writer is nothing without readers, after all. All the excited comments I got when I posted chapter 45 really made me feel, um, something embarrassingly happy that I can't quite find the words for. So, if you're reading this, thank you.

"Umm, was it this way again?" Subaru wondered out loud. Despite finding the cliffs with relative ease, trying to make his way back to the mansion was a daunting task.

Still perched on Subaru's shoulders, Beatrice offered, "It's quite discouraging to hear such a question, I suppose. Perhaps I should lead."

With this situation being too familiar to him, Subaru remained stubborn as he rejected Beatrice's help, "Ugh, I know you're leagues above me when it comes to your sense of direction, but you have to let me do this. If I don't conquer myself here, then when will I?"

With her chin pressed lazily against the top of Subaru's head, Beatrice sighed, "Such bold words spoken about an inconsequential situation only makes you sound like a dunce, I suppose." As her expression softened, Beatrice asked in a small voice, "Subaru, who are Hayato and Kyoko, I wonder?"

In response to Beatrice's question, Subaru stopped dead in his tracks and cautiously asked, "How do you know those names?" When Subaru didn't get a response, he furrowed his brow and pressed her, "You looked at my memories, didn't you?"

With all traces of Subaru's usual lightheartedness disappearing from his voice, Beatrice timidly answered, "I… I only peeked after I healed your stomach wounds. Consider it compensation for saving your life, I suppose."

As he recalled the very few unpleasant memories he's shared with Beatrice, Subaru sternly warned, "Listen, Beatrice. We've gotten into some of our nastiest fights when it came to the whole 'memory manipulation' stunts you've pulled. You can look at all the memories you want, but don't go messing with them. I've already gone through my fair share of getting my memories recorded over like an old VHS tape."

Understanding the weight of Subaru's words, Beatrice weakly apologized, "I… I sincerely apologize, I suppose."

With his tense expression start to relax, Subaru turned around and gave Beatrice a small smile, "It's okay." As Beatrice looked away in guilt, Subaru asked, "So, what did you see?"

Finally bringing herself to return Subaru's gaze, Beatrice hesitantly answered, "I peeked. I really did only peek, so I only allowed myself to see one thing. I wanted… to see something happy, I suppose. I won't go into the intricacies of searching through the endless sea of memories, but I ultimately searched for a happy memory that you experienced with Betty. From your perspective, I saw that I was in a kitchen, and for some reason I was actually at the stove. Did you really become such a slave driver that you made me prepare food for you, I wonder?"

As she started to grip tightly to Subaru's jacket, Beatrice nervously continued, "Then, you turned to look over to see two children running down the stairs. You called them by name, and the little girl ran up and hugged you. T-Then, the boy walked over to where I was."

Her shoulders trembling, Beatrice forced herself to say, "He said 'good morning, mother', I suppose."

After he reached up to pat Beatrice on the head, Subaru softly asked, "What happened after that?"

"I-I don't know. I cut the memory off right when I heard that. I don't think I could've handled any more than that." Beatrice desperately answered as her eyes glistened. As she clutched her chest, Beatrice hesitantly yet pleadingly asked, "I still can't comprehend it. Someone calling me 'mother'. It's simply terrifying, I suppose. Subaru… Who were those children? What were they to us, I wonder?"

The answer seemed obvious, and yet Beatrice's doubts were understandable given her four-hundred years of solitude. Even if Beatrice didn't know how far her relationship went with Subaru, she looked upon that morning scene and only one word came to mind.

Family. Such an unrealistic prospect for Beatrice had somehow become a reality for her under the circumstances Subaru had experienced.

Although Subaru was hesitant in telling her such an unfathomable truth, he couldn't deny that pleading look upon her face as he started to say, "They were—"

"Good evening to you both."

Before he could finish, a soft voice spoke out. Turning around in the voice's direction, Subaru saw a small silhouette making it's way closer to them.

"Or perhaps it's too late to be saying that, but 'good night' is more of a farewell than a greeting." The silhouette spoke gently.

Although he was initially on guard, Subaru started to relax a bit when he could start to make out the appearance of a little girl, or perhaps it was a young woman. Either way, Subaru decided to give her a friendly reply, "Heh, that's one of my jokes. I know me and Beatrice aren't any better, but what are you doing out here so late at night?"

"Subaru." Beatrice warned as she jumped down from his shoulders. As she grasped Subaru's hand, Beatrice stepped in front of him protectively.

With a relaxed smile on her face, the young woman spoke, "You don't need to look so alarmed. I'm just running a small errand."

For Beatrice's sake, Subaru was cautious of the young woman as he asked as a small courtesy, "You've got quite a unique fashion sense, but wearing a single piece of fabric is a bit too minimalistic. I could at least add sleeves to it if you want."

As the moonlight started to illuminate her appearance, the girl giggled, "Hehe. How considerate of you, but I must refuse. Wearing this fabric is already a small compromise that I decided to make, but I don't see any merit to compromising further."

Spreading her arms out as if to embrace the two, the platinum-haired girl innocently smiled, "Now with that out of the way, let's put things back to how they should be."

Once Subaru could finally make out her visage, he was immediately startled by the young woman's beauty, but even more than that, he wondered if the devil himself had the same smile as hers.